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For $J(\epsilon )={\int }_0^{\infty }{e}^{-x-\epsilon /x}dx/x$, reciprocity $x\mapsto \epsilon /x$ and the small-argument expansion of the exponential integral give $J=-\log \epsilon -2\gamma +o(1)$. Differentiation and integration by parts give $\epsilon J^{\prime \prime }+J^{\prime }=J$. Its Frobenius method yieldsThe logarithm is a singular contribution that a naive termwise expansion at $x=0$ misses.

The expansion is singular near the moving lower limit, so expanding $e^{-\epsilon /x}$ throughout the original integral would lose its constant term. Introduce the symmetric exponential integralUnder $x=\epsilon /t$, the discarded piece becomesThis is a uniform Taylor expansion because $t\ge 1$. To derive the logarithmic expansion of a symmetric exponential integral without needing another special function, first exploit the same substitution to writeThe estimate follows from $0\le 1-e^{-\epsilon /x}\le \epsilon /x$. Here $\gamma$ is Euler's constant and the small-argument expansion of the exponential integral fixes the constant as well as the logarithm.

Differentiate under the integral and integrate the derivative of $e^{-x-\epsilon /x}/x$ over $(0,\infty )$; the exponentially small endpoint terms vanish. This gives the ordinary differential equationFor the Frobenius method at its regular singular point, write $J=A\log \epsilon +B+\epsilon (C_1\log \epsilon +D)+\cdots$. Substitution gives $C_1=A$ and $D=B-2A$. The preceding leading calculation sets $A=-1$, $B=-2\gamma$, henceSubtracting the moving-cutoff correction to a symmetric exponential integral yields the requested answer, including the logarithmically enhanced first-order term:Thus the $\epsilon \log \epsilon$ switchback term must be retained when asking for all contributions through order $\epsilon$.

At fixed $r$, the leading equation is $(r^2{f}_0^{\prime }{)}^{\prime }=0$. Its solution compatible with the eventual decaying far field and the boundary value at one is $f_0=1/r$. This decay implies $f=O(ϵ)$ at distances $r=O({ϵ}^{-1})$. Balancing radial derivatives against the linear screening term identifiesThe distant region is governed by the modified Helmholtz equation; its decaying homogeneous profile is $e^{-x}/x$.

For a matched asymptotic expansion, write the fixed-$r$ approximation as $f=f_0+ϵf_1+{ϵ}^2{f}_2+\cdots$, allowing logarithms of $ϵ$ in the coefficients. Successive equations areThe boundary condition imposes $f_0(1)=1$ and $f_1(1)=f_2(1)=0$. Before matching, their integrated forms can be writtenIn particular a pure power series with parameter-independent coefficients will be insufficient: the logarithmic overlap creates a switchback term.

In the distant region set $f=ϵF_0(x)+{ϵ}^2{F}_1(x)+\cdots$. The scaled equation is $f_{xx}+2f_x/x-f=x{f}^3/ϵ$, soDecay and leading matching give $F_0=e^{-x}/x$. The radial modified Helmholtz equation gives the supplied particular integral in terms of the exponential integral:As $x\downarrow 0$, the small-argument expansion of the exponential integral yieldswhere $\gamma$ is the Euler--Mascheroni constant. Substitute $x=ϵr$ to compare the two expansions in $1\ll r\ll {ϵ}^{-1}$:The constant at order $ϵ$ fixes $C_1=-1$. Its $1/r$ coefficient then fixes $\alpha +\frac{1}{2}\log 2=1$, and the constant at order ${ϵ}^2$ fixes $D$. HenceThe required inner expansion at fixed $r$ isAt fixed positive $x=ϵr$, the outer expansion isBoth display every term through the requested order, including the ${ϵ}^2\log ϵ$ switchback term in the fixed-$r$ region.

To form an additive composite expansion, subtract the common overlap from the sum of the inner and outer expressions. Their retained common part isThus one composite is $ϵF_0(ϵr)+{ϵ}^2{F}_1(ϵr)-{ϵ}^2(D+1/2)/r$. The last term can be screened by multiplying it by $e^{-ϵr}$ without changing either retained expansion. This gives a useful exponentially decaying version:Its boundary value is $1+o({ϵ}^2)$. If exact satisfaction of the boundary value is desired, use insteadThe small-argument expansion of the exponential integral shows that this normalized composite has the same two retained expansions; it equals one at $r=1$ and tends to zero at infinity.

For a radial function in three dimensions, $(\Delta -1)y=g(x)$ becomes $y^{\prime \prime }+2y^{\prime }/x-y=g(x)$. Setting $u=xy$ gives $u^{\prime \prime }-u=xg(x)$, reducing it to a constant-coefficient linear ordinary differential equation. If $g=e^{-3x}/x^2$, a decaying particular solution obtained by variation of parameters isThe small-argument expansion of the exponential integral givesThe undetermined decaying homogeneous coefficient $\alpha$ is fixed by a boundary condition or by a matched asymptotic expansion.